In another huge upset, Miesha Tate snatched the world bantamweight crown from Holly Holm, choking her unconscious in the final round to take the title.

Following a week of trash talk between the two, a stunned McGregor was somewhat humble in defeat.

"I thought I took him in the first round. I'm humble in victory or defeat," he said in the octagon after the fight. "I took a chance to move up a weight and it didn't work.

"I thought I landed with some good punches that got him off," a delighted Diaz said. "I started off slow but I'm faster than anyone later on. My jiu-jitsu is always there for me."

McGregor, who was denied a chance to become the first fighter to hold two UFC belts at the same time when lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos pulled out with a foot injury, struggled in the second round after Diaz landed a heavy blow.

McGregor had landed some heavy left-hand shots of his own in the first round, opening up a cut over Diaz's right eye that streamed blood as he struggled to cope with McGregor's quick feet and hands.

The 27-year old Irish fighter, who took just 13 seconds to knock out Jose Aldo and win the featherweight crown, couldn't put the 30-year-old away, and when Diaz landed a punch in the second round McGregor looked stunned.
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